R15 400 spent on 26 balls
2010-03-11 22:09
Bloemfontein - The Lejweleputswa district municipality in the Free State is in total chaos and a forensic audit into its affairs is urgently needed, the FF Plus said on Thursday.
Municipal spokesperson LR Maba, also the ANC's regional secretary in the Goldfields area, hadn't reported for work the past 14 months, Free State Freedom Front Plus leader Abrie Oosthuizen alleged.
"However, every month he received his salary of R32 800."
Oosthuizen said this seemed like fraud and wasteful expenditure because the municipality received no service in return.
He said councillors at the district municipality also received higher allowances than they were entitled to.
"The difference in costs between a grade 4 and 5 municipality (allowance) is R1 071 000 a year. This money must be reclaimed from the councillors by the municipality."
Personal loans
Oosthuizen said there were other suspicious transactions, such as an investment of R2.5m by the municipality in Mozwe Financial Services.
The district municipality's acting financial manager apparently also had personal loans from the same institution.
Other alleged financial irregularities at Lejwelepustwa include two Bomag construction vehicles bought for R440 000, but never received.
In addition groceries of more than R15 000 were bought, R4 000 was spent on eight soccer balls, R7 200 on 12 volleyballs and R4 200 on six rugby balls.
An employee, who exceeded her sick leave by 192 working days, was paid, resulting in an expense of R174 129, Oosthuizen said.
Premier urged to investigate
He urged Free State Premier Ace Magashule and the provincial government to order a forensic audit into the dealings of the municipality.
"If necessary, councillors and officials who were involved in corrupt acts should be charged criminally," Oosthuizen said.
The Lejweleputswa district municipality, with its head office in Welkom, covers the second largest area in the Free State.
It has five local municipalities covering 18 towns including Theunissen, Brandfort, Welkom, Bothaville, Boshof and Bultfontein.
No one at the municipality was immediately available to comment on Thursday.
- SAPA